Eli Manning wanted to take Jaxson Dart under his wing. But apparently, the New York Giants rookie just wanted a “reservations guy.”
During a recent appearance on “The Schrager Hour” podcast, Manning detailed one of his earliest encounters with Dart. Manning told host Peter Schrager that he had offered Dart a direct line to ask him “about anything” after the Giants drafted the Ole Miss alum in April to be the team’s QB1 of the future.
Dart misunderstood what sort of helping hand Manning was offering him. The 22-year-old called Manning during training camp to ask for a favor that the Super Bowl MVP considered “not part of the deal.”
“I told Jaxson, ‘If you have questions about anything, I’m here for you,” Manning shared to Schrager. “Football-related, or when you’re deciding what town you want to live in. This or that.’
“All of a sudden, it’s training camp. He calls me one day and is like, ‘You’ve got a minute?’ I say, ‘Yeah, of course.’ … He goes, ‘Can you get me a reservation at 4 Charles tonight at 6:30?’
“I was like, ‘No, no, no. That’s not part of the deal. When I said I’m happy to help out, I’m not doing that. I’m not your reservations guy. You have to earn the right to call and make the reservation.”
Eli Manning has walked the same path as Jaxson Dart.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) September 18, 2025
He urged Dart to call him if he ever needed anything.
Help with a reservation at 4 CHARLES PRIME RIB was not what he meant.
From this week's "The Schrager Hour" ⬇️
📺: https://t.co/K2pkESYtEx
🎧: https://t.co/8Aof2carwI pic.twitter.com/7LoAUyE9YL
Manning admitted that he was expecting Dart to ask for advice about dealing with playing behind a veteran starter like Russell Wilson. Like Dart, Manning started his career off the bench behind Hall of Famer Kurt Warner.
However, all Dart wanted was an express pass to dine at 4 Charles Prime Rib, one of the most exclusive restaurants in all of New York. If there’s one positive Giants fans can take away from this story, it’s that Dart does not lack in confidence.
Manning can get any reservation he wants at a moment’s notice after bringing two Super Bowl trophies to the franchise. Dart has a long way to go before he builds that kind of equity with a fan base starved for success since Eli retired.
Manning waited until Week 10 of the 2004 season to take the starting job away from Warner. With the Giants going 0-2 under Wilson through two weeks, Dart may follow a similar trajectory.
